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T-RAN (born December 7, 1984) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, musician, music video director, actor, motivational speaker, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He has shared the stage with such artists as Kirk Franklin, Lyfe Jennings, Shania Twain, Monica, and Kool & the Gang and was featured on TBN with rapper/host T-Bone as his song charted in the TX10 Countdown. As an actor, he has appeared in the films, Straight into Darkness and Unconditional as well as in episodes of Nashville. In 2023, he won Music Video of the Year at the Josie Music Awards for directing, Taylor Sanders' Firecracker.

Early life
Terran Jerrell Gilbert was born December 7, 1984, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. His father, Russell Gilbert Sr., is an elected official and hospital director. His mother, Terri Gilbert, works with children at the 22V Kids Academy and disadvantaged youth. T-RAN has three sisters: Skieree and twins Gabrielle and Whitney; and one brother, Russell Jr. He had an older sister, Sherree, who died at birth.

He began singing and dancing at the age of three, mimicking his musical idol, Michael Jackson. T-RAN picked up his first microphone at the age of four. His grandfather was a Baptist preacher and his grandmother was a church pianist. He credits his grandfather as the first to call him, "T-RAN," as a way of helping people pronounce his first name.

Secular and gospel music were the source for T-RAN's motivation as a singer by age 9. T-RAN joined the youth church choir at a local church at age 12. He became music director by the age of 13. That same year, he showcased his talent at a regional Gospel Star Search. It was during this time that he decided to sing professionally. By age 14, he appeared for the first time on television on The Babbie Mason Show.

When he was 15, T-RAN wrote his first song, "Miracles." It was written as a testimony to God for delivering his older brother, Russell Jr., from a life-threatening illness.

T-RAN attended the Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts from 1999 to 2002 and studied under Alan Ledford in a theatrical music troupe called The Choo Choo Kids. Under Alan's direction, T-RAN honed his performance skills and stage presence. In 2001, he toured with the troupe in Europe.